TOP 10 MOST EXCITING RELEASES FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2023

Written by: Nikola Hristov

Hello Gamers, and welcome to our list of the top 10 most HYPE game releases for the latter half of 2023! The year has already seen some amazing heavy-hitters such as Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Hogwarts Legacy and Final Fantasy XVI. However, the battle for game of the year is not quite over yet, as there's still lots more to grab your attention until next year arrives. With all that being said, let's get into the list!

1. STARFIELD

One of the most ambitious titles this year, Starfield is the game with the most potential to put Xbox back on the map. Bethesda have always been an amazing developer with one major flaw – they take their time with their games. And when I say they take their time, I mean it in a bad way. Elder scrolls 6 was announced in what…2017 or something? Anyways, I digress. Starfield will give the player 1000 explorable planets and the ability to collect resources, the ability to build your own weapons and spaceships, and more. At its core lies exploration – with such a massive promise of a world, that's definitely going to attract players who are willing to throw themselves into the unknown. Starfield releases on the 6th of September for Xbox and PC.

2. MORTAL KOMBAT 1

After Liu Kang's ending in the last Mortal Kombat, 11, this soft reboot of the franchise is set to completely alter key aspects of the story, such as characters' relationships and their roles in the narrative. The new combat mechanics will include Kameo characters, where you always take a partner along with your main, and get the ability to do all kinds of crazy combos and guard breaks, even teleports. This game truly feels like a breath of fresh air for the MK franchise, and I really hope it doesn't disappoint. Mortal Kombat 1 releases on the 19th of September.

3. ASSASSIN'S CREED: MIRAGE

Ah yes, the promised 'return to roots' AC game that will put story, stealth and parkour at its front and centre, instead of the widely hated RPG mechanics of the last three main ACs. So far, the trailers seems very promising – with the exception of that stupid teleportation 'fear takedown' type-of ability, that looks like something out of the Arkham games. But put that aside – and we hopefully have a strong narrative to look forward to, with major focus on actually being an assassin and working in the shadows this time around. Yeah, you can tell I'm not a fan of Valhalla and Odyssey. But Ubisoft look like they finally listened, which gives every fan of this franchise hope. Assassin's Creed: Mirage releases on the 12th of October.

4. AVATAR: FRONTIERS OF PANDORA

The second Ubisoft game on this list – a first person open world set on Pandora, the fictional living planet in the Avatar universe. If this wasn't developed by them, I promise you this would be the second most hyped game this year. But Ubisoft's track record isn't great these past few years – so can this and Mirage fix that? Frontiers of Pandora will let you play as your own Na'vi, with both traditional weapons such as knives and bows, and modernized human weapons like guns. But by far the most exciting aspect here is the world and its exploration – with means of flying and parkouring through the trees of the jungle, all the mystical creatures in front of your very eyes, this will hopefully be a game to remember. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora releases on the 7th of December.

5. CYBERPUNK 2077: PHANTOM LIBERTY

Okay, this is not a full game release, that's true. But CD Projekt Red never disappoint with their DLCs. Despite the disastrous launch back in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 has gotten much better through the dozens of patches they released, and without bugs the game is by far one of the best I've played in recent years. However, it has some very confusing systems, especially the skill trees. Phantom Liberty will not only introduce a very expansive story and a new area to explore, with new loot inside of it, but it will also overhaul the existing systems to simplify them and make the game easier and more fluid to understand and play. Phantom Liberty releases on the 26th of September.

6. ALAN WAKE 2

Despite the digital only launch, Alan Wake 2 is also on the list for most beloved franchises getting sequels this year, and is sure to get lots of attention once it releases. This time, you play as Alan Wake and Saga Anderson, and Remedy are going full-on survival horror. But there's more emphasis on detective work and solving puzzles, as well as a strong narrative and world building. Will this be able to top Resident Evil 4 Remake as the best survival horror game this year? I guess we'll have to wait until the 17th of October to find out.

7. LIES OF P

It's been quite a while since this interesting title was announced. It's a Soulslike game that is loosely inspired by the Pinocchio universe, but obviously in a more dark and gritty way, befitting its Bloodborne atmosphere. There is a demo for this game and it looks very promising, I recommend you check it out if you're looking to challenge yourself. There's also many RPG mechanics, with tons of weapons and therefore builds to choose from. Lies of P releases on September 19th. 

8. PAYDAY 3

This one is still recently announced and there aren't much details out, however, for fans of the first 2 games, this will be a must play. The cooperative shooter that has you and your crew execute heists is back again, this time in New York. With bigger levels, more gameplay options and lower pricing, this title certainly looks very enticing. PAYDAY 3 releases on the 21st of September. 

9. ARMORED CORE VI: FIRES OF RUBICON

One of my personal favourite developers of all time – FromSoftware – are taking a break from their Souls-Borne-Sekiro-Ring games, and are going back to their roots with one of their other popular franchises – the third person mecha action games Armored Core. Fires of Rubicon will bring this franchise to modern day, with much better controls and more customization options for your Mech, as well as a new story. I'm very excited to play this one, because no matter how differently they design their products, the developers at From always deliver experiences that players remember for the rest of their lives. Armored Core VI releases on the 24th of August.

10. MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN 2

Ah yes, the best for last! Well, to each their own, but for a Spider-Man fanboy such as myself who grew up with the animated shows, comics, movies and games, this title is by far the most exciting. Insomniac have proven time and time again that they know what they're doing with this character, because Spider-Man PS4 and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are widely regarded as some of the best PS exclusives and superhero games of all time. In this instalment, New York is bigger – with districts such as Brooklyn and Queens being explorable. There's new traversal options – with more air tricks for both our Spider-Men and the addition to web wings for gliding. For combat, because of the PS Showcase in May, we know about Peter's new symbiote abilities, and Miles' blue bioelectricity. On top of a story featuring Venom and Kraven as its main villains? Boy, you know the hype train is through the roof! Marvel's Spider-Man 2 releases October 20th, exclusively on PS5.

Which of these titles excites you the most? Personally, I cannot wait to go back to New York to check out the next chapter in Peter Parker and Miles Morales' lives. But every game on this list looks very exciting! For more news regarding your favourite franchises, stay updated on One Up Gaming.

Written by: Nikola Hristov